Bayonne's Marist boys baseball team is hungry to repeat as county and state champions

A year ago, the Marist baseball team perfected the art of late-game theater. Walk-off victories, seventh inning rallies, one-run squeakers -- all became commonplace during a magical postseason run that ended with an improbable state championship.

Freshman Jesse Matos picked up where last year's team left off, delivering the game-winning hit in the Royal Knights' walk-off win at Veterans Stadium in Bayonne. The Royal Knights hope the deja vu continues throughout the spring, as the defending Non-Public B and Hudson County champions are back and ready to defend both crowns.

"The feel was different, because we were trying to get there. None of us knew how that felt," said senior outfielder Andres Santana. "Now that the returning players know how this feels, we want to win again."

The Royal Knights became the darlings of Hudson County baseball last season after captivating runs through the county and state tournaments. Santana and Co. erased a 5-1 deficit against St. Peter's Prep in the Hudson County Tournament final and claimed a 7-5 victory in nine innings for the school's first county title since 1993.

Following a pair of walk-off wins in the state tournament, the Royal Knights rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Non-Public B state championship against Newark Academy. The thrilling comeback capped an 11-10 victory and clinched the school's first state title since 1991.

Yet, there's one thing coach Ron Hayward has made clear to his group this March: That was all in the past.

"That's over. I told them that," said Hayward, entering his eighth season at Marist. "It's over. It's about getting to the finals and trying to win everything again."

The strengths of this year's unit figure to be pitching and team speed. Junior right hander Matt Littrell slides in as the team's No. 1 starter, while junior lefty Josh Witherspoon and freshman A.J. Candelario will be the second and third starters in the rotation.

Hayward will be without a contingent of seniors that led the team on its 14-game winning streak to close the season. That group included pitcher Mark Peralta, catcher Ian Legares and second baseman Derek Edge. But an influx of freshmen has restocked the talent pool, while St. Anthony transfer and middle infielder Dionny Morales also joins the fold.

"You can't replace the seniors that left. We're just going to come out with fire every game and pick our teammates up," said senior designated hitter DeVohn Duncan.

Santana, Witherspoon and junior Angel Perez form the starting outfield, while senior Aaron Smith and junior Elijah Hernandez anchor the infield at second and third base, respectively. Freshman Kevin Reynoso replaces Legares at catcher.

Marist will receive a firm test immediately, as Hayward's crew visits St. Peter's Prep at the Ed "Faa" Ford Athletic Complex in Jersey City for their season opener next Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

"I'd rather have the bull's-eye on my back than not be on the radar at all," said Littrell.

Added Smith: "Just getting back on to the field, we've got something to prove to a lot of people, because not many people think we can do it again."